The Benefits of Copaiba Essential Oil.

I recently had a friend ask me about Copaiba essential oil and what exactly it was good for. I knew a little, but wanted to really get down and dirty with this oil, so I spent some time researching. Now I’m ready to present you with a short and sweet user’s guide to what I found out is some pretty amazing stuff!

Copaiba may sound like an exotic Brazilian dance move, but it’s actually a very potent anti-inflammatory compound distilled from the sap of Copaibafera officinalis trees native to the Amazon forest in South America. Until recently, it was used mainly in traditional indigenous medicine due to its healing powers. Lucky for us, Copaiba is now beginning to gain in popularity outside of South America, which means we get to benefit from this all natural remedy right in our own homes!

This essential oil can be used to treat fungal infections, skin issues such as eczema, acne and psoriasis, bladder issues, and can help protect from respiratory distress, pain, inflammation, liver disease, and infection. It’s also been effectively used to treat arthritis and joint pain. Pretty great, right?! So, what exactly is it about this oil that makes it so potent? It’s the high content of terpenes found in it.

Terpenes are hydrocarbons that have a direct and curative effect on our body functions, which is why it’s able to aid and support in so many things. Some of Copaiba’s active chemical compounds such as betacaryophyllene, bergamotene, and copaene have also been studied and shown to have a significant anticarginogenic effect. Add in the fact that it is chock full of antioxidants, and Copaiba is basically a medicine cabinet in a bottle.

Along with its efficacy, Copaiba is incredibly easy to use. To promote relaxation, and overall wellness, as well as to help ward off infection and promote lung health, it can be used in a diffuser on its own or mixed with a few other essential oils of your choice. To soothe sore muscles and joints it can be used topically mixed with a carrier oil and massaged into the skin as well as used in a warm bath. Depending on the grade of oil you use, a drop of Copaiba under the tongue once a day can further promote healing and immune function.

For skin health it can be used topically as well and added to your favorite carrier oil. I love coconut and almond oil, but olive or grapeseed work great too. Start off with 3-4 drops added to a tablespoon of the carrier oil and rub it in lightly over the affected area (acne, psoriasis, or eczema). You can add more drops, you’ll just want to watch how your skin reacts to it. With essential oils, a little goes a long way. This can be used as often as needed, and you’ll also have the added benefit of Copaiba’s anti aging properties. Double win! By the way, this oil can also be used to treat wounds, insect bites, and other skin abrasions. Once applied, the anti-inflammatory, anti fungal, and anti bacterial properties go to work right away. As a matter of fact, Copaiba has been used to help reduce the appearance of scars!

Copaiba essential oil is starting to be researched closely, and is gaining favor very rapidly even in Western medicine. Science.gov actually concluded that Copaiba is indeed one of the most powerful phytomedicines available. It’s also been compared to CBD oil due to it’s highly anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties. Can’t put Copaiba in a pipe and smoke it though…no THC in this good stuff!

There are a few companies selling Copaiba essential oil now, but I get mine from Young Living as they are the only oil company with a Seed to Seal promise of purity. Find your bottle here: Copaiba Essential Oil

**As an affiliate, I make a small portion from some of the sales made via some of the links in my blog.

header photo by Christin Hume @unsplash